Belgian customs arrest 45, seize million of counterfeit cigarettes

VCN - Belgian customs officers arrested 45 people on Wednesday as part of the country's biggest operation into cigarette counterfeiting.
Smuggled cigarettes hidden inside packs of water spinach Smuggled cigarettes hidden inside packs of water spinach
Moc Bai Customs seizes 10,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes Moc Bai Customs seizes 10,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes
About 1,000 packages of cigarettes stored in bonded warehouse About 1,000 packages of cigarettes stored in bonded warehouse
Belgian customs arrest 45, seize million of counterfeit cigarettes

The country has become a hub for cigarette trafficking to neighbouring countries.

Officers arrested 17 people of Ukrainian and Bulgarian nationality during a pre-dawn raid on a sweatshop in an industrial area of Aartselaar, near the northern city of Antwerp.

The men were housed in a dilapidated dormitory in the warehouse, working in shifts to dry tobacco and run it through rolling machines.

"This warehouse operates 24 hours a day, and the workers don't leave it, so as not to give any sign of suspicious activity to the neighbourhood," Florence Angelici, spokeswoman for the Belgian finance ministry, explained.

"And so they will sleep, work, eat, shower on site, without going out for weeks, even months," she added.

A large stock of cigarettes was ready to leave for the UK, in imitation branded packs with the health warnings that are common in the country.

Related News

Criminals take advantage of establishing enterprises to illegally produce and transport drugs

Criminals take advantage of establishing enterprises to illegally produce and transport drugs

VCN - Drug crime activities remain extremely complicated, especially the method of taking advantage of establishing enterprises in Vietnam to transport vehicles, equipment, raw materials, rent warehouses, etc to serve illegal production and transportation of drugs from abroad into Vietnam and continue to send them to third countries for consumption.
Hong Kong customs seizes B42.5m of smuggled platinum, its largest haul in 20 years

Hong Kong customs seizes B42.5m of smuggled platinum, its largest haul in 20 years

VCN - Hong Kong customs has claimed its biggest haul of smuggled platinum in two decades, seizing HKcopy0 million (42.5 million baht) worth of the metal hidden in a battery box at the bottom of a Shenzhen-bound truck.
Quang Tri Customs seizes 10,500 packages of smuggled cigarettes

Quang Tri Customs seizes 10,500 packages of smuggled cigarettes

VCN - The Drug Enforcement Team, Quang Tri Customs Department has just coordinated with Dakrong District Police, Quang Tri Police to fight and arrest a suspect who illegally transported 10,500 packages of smuggled cigarettes.
Ho Chi Minh City Customs stops many drug trafficking gangs via air

Ho Chi Minh City Customs stops many drug trafficking gangs via air

VCN - Not only promptly preventing illegal drug trafficking through border gates, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department also coordinated with other authorities to expand the investigation and arrest many criminals involved in drug trafficking rings.

Latest News

The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs

The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs

VCN - The Bureau of Customs of The Philippines (BOC) has taken a groundbreaking step towards enhancing transparency and accountability by implementing an innovative approach to corruption risk mapping with support from the World Customs Organization (WCO)
US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions

US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is clamping down on the use of vague descriptions of shipments submitted through the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).
Uzbekistan Signs Customs Agreement With U.S.

Uzbekistan Signs Customs Agreement With U.S.

VCN - The heads of the Uzbek and American customs services have signed an agreement “On Cooperation and Mutual Assistance,” an essential legal basis of cooperation in customs. The deal was signed in a bilateral meeting between the Chairman of the Uzbekistan’s Customs Committee, Akmalkhuja Mavlonov, and the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Border Service, Troy Miller.
Customs Affairs conducts training programme for OFOQ2 Single Window System

Customs Affairs conducts training programme for OFOQ2 Single Window System

Manama, Aug. 14 (BNA): The Customs Affairs has completed a training programme for users of the Customs Single Window (OFOQ2) system, including competent authorities and customs clearance offices. The training was conducted by Customs Affairs trainers with the participation of specialists from various customs directorates.

More News

Abu Dhabi Customs equips sea customs centres with five advanced inspection devices

Abu Dhabi Customs equips sea customs centres with five advanced inspection devices

VCN - The General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs has completed a project to equip its sea customs centers with advanced inspection devices as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of customs operations across the border ports of Abu Dhabi.
Customs rules get stringent at Singapore

Customs rules get stringent at Singapore

VCN - The FTZ regulations require cargo interests to submit import cargo information on long-haul trades 12 hours prior to each vessel’s arrival at berth in Singapore Port and for short-haul trades
Sabah Customs seizes over RM600,000 worth of drugs

Sabah Customs seizes over RM600,000 worth of drugs

VCN - A teenager was among two suspected drug mules nabbed with over 20kg of drugs valued at around RM667,729.44 from two airports in the state recently.
Hong Kong customs to use AI to check 6,000 digital images in seconds for crime-fighting boost

Hong Kong customs to use AI to check 6,000 digital images in seconds for crime-fighting boost

Hong Kong customs will establish a new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can process up to an hour of surveillance camera footage or about 6,000 images within seconds to crack down on crimes involving digital evidence.
Hong Kong customs seizes HK$5.8 million of heroin hidden among durians

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$5.8 million of heroin hidden among durians

Officers also arrested three men, aged between 25 and 53, in connection with the trafficking of the substance.
Dubai and Indonesia to boost the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with advanced customs procedures

Dubai and Indonesia to boost the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with advanced customs procedures

Dubai and Indonesia to boost the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement through advanced customs procedures and AI systems at Jebel Ali and Dubai International Airport, enhancing trade efficiency.
India imposes 10% customs duty on solar glass imports

India imposes 10% customs duty on solar glass imports

VCN - The Indian authorities will introduce a 10% customs duty on solar glass imports from October. The government has also expanded the list of exempted equipment for solar cell and panel production to support domestic manufacturing.
Customs seize arms, ammunition worth N2bn from Turkey

Customs seize arms, ammunition worth N2bn from Turkey

The Nigeria Customs Service said its operatives intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items including arms, ammunition, Illicit drugs and second-hand clothes worth N13.9 billion.
WCO and German Customs sign a new Grant Agreement

WCO and German Customs sign a new Grant Agreement

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has concluded an agreement with the German Customs Authority, establishing a new Customs Cooperation Fund of Germany (CCF-Germany) for the period 2024-2028. This agreement, designed to enhance capacity-building initiatives, was signed on June 28 in Brussels during the WCO Council Sessions. The signing ceremony featured Hans Pieters, Head of Administration and Personnel for the WCO, and Mr. Martin Reuter, Head of Unit International Affairs at the Central Customs Authority, representing Germany.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs

The Philippines Pioneers Corruption Risk Mapping to Strengthen Integrity and Trade Facilitation in Customs

VCN - The Bureau of Customs of The Philippines (BOC) has taken a groundbreaking step towards enhancing transparency and accountability by implementing an innovative approach to corruption risk mapping with support from the World Customs Organization (WCO)
US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions

US customs clamps down on vague cargo descriptions

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is clamping down on the use of vague descriptions of shipments submitted through the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).
Uzbekistan Signs Customs Agreement With U.S.

Uzbekistan Signs Customs Agreement With U.S.

VCN - The heads of the Uzbek and American customs services have signed an agreement “On Cooperation and Mutual Assistance,” an essential legal basis of cooperation in customs. The deal was signed in a bilateral meeting between the Chairman of the Uzbekist
Hong Kong customs seizes B42.5m of smuggled platinum, its largest haul in 20 years

Hong Kong customs seizes B42.5m of smuggled platinum, its largest haul in 20 years

VCN - Hong Kong customs has claimed its biggest haul of smuggled platinum in two decades, seizing HKcopy0 million (42.5 million baht) worth of the metal hidden in a battery box at the bottom of a Shenzhen-bound truck.
Customs Affairs conducts training programme for OFOQ2 Single Window System

Customs Affairs conducts training programme for OFOQ2 Single Window System

Manama, Aug. 14 (BNA): The Customs Affairs has completed a training programme for users of the Customs Single Window (OFOQ2) system, including competent authorities and customs clearance offices. The training was conducted by Customs Affairs trainers with the participation of specialists from various customs directorates.
Mobile Version